Abstract: The invention relates to a device for protecting a battery from electrostatic charging. In particular, the invention is directed to an electrically conductive covering for a vehicle battery having a plastic casing. The type of plastics typically used in casings for vehicle batteries have a tendency to develop electrostatic charges. The accumulation of such charges can result in flash overs that can damage the battery and, in certain circumstances, can result in explosions. The covering may be a film having a surface resistance of <1·109 ohms that is connected to one of the terminals of the battery, thus draining the electrostatic charges that might otherwise build up. The covering may be provided with various features, including ribbing that preserves the structural integrity of the covering as well as different structures to hold down the covering on the battery. The covering is designed so that it can be customized to fit various battery types and sizes and is also reusable.

Abstract: A system and associated method are disclosed for protecting a magnetoresistive (MR) head from damage caused by electrostatic discharge. Included is a protective member having a conductive surface for being removably positioned on a MR connector cable such that the conductive surface remains in electrical communication with contacts of the MR connector cable. Thus, the contacts are shorted to protect a MR head coupled to the MR connector cable from damage caused by electrostatic discharge. Further included is a clamp releasably coupled to the protective member for maintaining the conductive surface of the protective member in electrical communication with the contacts of the MR connector cable to facilitate the shorting of the contacts, thus ensuring the protection of the MR head coupled to the MR connector cable from the damage caused by the electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing the misfiring of a protection device. The protection device includes line terminals and load terminals. The protection device further includes a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals.

Abstract: In a temperature protection device for power devices of the present invention, detected temperatures of power devices are compared with respective threshold values by determination units. If either one of the determination units determines that there is abnormal heat build-up of the respective power devices, the output of that determination units is maintained by a latch circuit, and the current carried by the power device subject to abnormal heat build-up is interrupted. In addition, due to the output of the determination units making the determination, the threshold value of the other determination units is changed to a temperature threshold value that is higher than that set previously, so that it is not determined that the normally operating power device is subject to abnormal heat build-up. This changing of the threshold value is only executed for a fixed time period based upon a timer circuit.

Abstract: Faulted current indicator. Apparatus and method for observing the status of faulted current interrupters for high voltage transmission lines are described. Light emitting diodes powered by a photovoltaic voltage source are used to identify interrupters which have been tripped.

Abstract: A surge protection element for a conventional cable connector includes a printed circuit board preferably shaped as two concentric rings connected by two spokes. The outer ring is electrically connected to the grounded portion of the cable connector body. A printed circuit trace on one of the spokes is separated from a printed circuit trace on the inner ring by a spark gap. If a high voltage surge is carried by the coaxial cable transmission line, a spark is formed in the gap. As a consequence, the high voltage surge is transferred to the surge protection element which in turn conducts the electricity to the grounded body of the connector.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit for low-voltage, high-current electrical systems comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) resistor in series with an auto-reset thermal breaker. The breaker allows for intermittent current within an assumed product usage duty cycle, and repeatedly trips and resets on sustained high current usage or during a short-circuit fault. The PTC resistor limits current in the system to a low value when the temperature rises to the PTC resistor's trip point. The PTC resistor protects the system from thermal damage during the non-breaker-tripped portions of sustained high current use, or during continuous low-current use. The use of both the PTC resistor and auto-reset breaker provides thermal overcurrent protection while allowing for performance claims based on an assumed duty cycle of product use.

Abstract: An arc detector comprising a voltage generator for detecting a voltage and an integrator for integrating said voltage with respect to time and generating an output signal corresponding to said integration. The arc detector also includes a discharge controller for controlling said output signal of said integrator, an amplifier for amplifying said output signal from said integrator and outputting an amplified signal; and a comparator for comparing said amplified output signal to a reference voltage and generating a detection signal based on said comparison.

Abstract: A protective enclosure includes one or more walls for surrounding an electronic device. At least one of the walls includes energy absorbing protrusions for absorbing the energies, etc., created when, and if, the electronic device unfortunately explodes due to a lightning strike.

Abstract: A lightning surge protector configured for use with coaxial lines is disclosed. The lightning surge protector includes an inner conductor comprising two conductive portions mechanically and capacitively coupled together, and displaced from one another, by a dielectric material which may be injection molded or snapped onto the conductive portions. Insulating material extends between the inner conductor and an outer conductor to electrically insulate the inner conductor from the outer conductor. An inductor inductively couples the inner conductor to the outer conductor and is coupled between the two using a solderless connection. The inductor has a bent end which may be inserted in a hole in the inner conductor and a straight end that may be staked in a hole in the outer conductor. The outer conductor is formed from a case and a plug which are frictionally coupled.

Abstract: A current diverter strip is provided having a dielectric (22) located above a plurality of conductive segments (24). An insulator (30) is also provided among said conductive segments (24) and below said dielectric (22). When RF transparency is required, the conductive segments (24) can have a maximum dimension that is approximately ?th of a wavelength of the highest operating frequency of an antenna that may be communicating through the current diverter strip. The dielectric (22) may be colored to match the color of the structure to which it is implemented. Upon exposure to a strong electric field, the current diverter strip (20) forms an ionized channel above the dielectric (22). In various implementations, the current diverter strip may be radio frequency transparent, environmentally and chemically resistant, color matched to its surroundings, and/or can withstand repeated uses.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a blocking N-channel MOS (LDMOS) transistor that prevents current flow when the supply connection is reversed. When connected properly, the body diode conducts to provide a start-up function. A bias generator is employed to enable the low drop-out voltage function, allowing the output voltage to be very close to supply.

Abstract: A method of protecting an MR imaging system including a plurality of coil groups includes connecting at least one first diode between terminals of a first coil group, connecting at least one second diode between terminals of a second coil group, wherein the second group is connected to the first coil group via a separation line, and connecting at least one quench heater between the separation line and the first and second diodes.

Abstract: In order to achieve a reduction in the switching noise during operation of an electromagnetic switching device with little complexity, a coil for moving an armature with moving switching contacts is driven in order to make contact at a first minimum value of a supply voltage. The supply voltage is then increased from the first minimum value to a second minimum value as a function of time, such that the moving switching contacts can be moved with the stationary switching contacts into sufficient mutual contact with pressure applied.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit for low-voltage, high-current electrical systems comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) resistor in series with an auto-reset thermal breaker. The breaker allows for intermittent current within an assumed product usage duty cycle, and repeatedly trips and resets on sustained high current usage or during a short-circuit fault. The PTC resistor limits current in the system to a low value when the temperature rises to the PTC resistor's trip point. The PTC resistor protects the system from thermal damage during the non-breaker-tripped portions of sustained high current use, or during continuous low-current use. The use of both the PTC resistor and auto-reset breaker provides thermal overcurrent protection while allowing for performance claims based on an assumed duty cycle of product use.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device comprises several thyristors which are connected in parallel between two nodes of an electrical circuit. It also includes a control circuit having an output connected to the control trigger terminal input of each of the thyristors. In response to an abnormal variation in a voltage between the two nodes being detected, the control circuit initiates a triggering current on the output so as to trigger the thyristors to conduct current between the two nodes. Preferably, the thyristors are arranged in a semiconductor substrate so as to have low hold voltages and small geometrical dimensions.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit system has first, second, and third external terminals electrically separated from each other. The first external terminal is configured to receive a first power supply voltage in a normal operation. A protection circuit section is provided in the circuit system and includes a rectifier to allow a surge current to pass therethrough. The rectifier has a current passage connected between a specific terminal connected to a protection target and the third external terminal. The protection circuit section further includes a first PMOS transistor configured to trigger the rectifier, based on a surge voltage inputted into the second external terminal. The first PMOS transistor has a current passage connected between the second external terminal and a base of the NPN transistor. The first PMOS transistor has a gate connected to the first external terminal.

Abstract: An output driver having electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is disclosed. The output driver includes a first gain transistor, a second gain transistor, a capacitor and a resistor. The first gain transistor provides a first stage gain, and the second gain transistor provides a second stage gain. The capacitor, which is connected to the first and second gain transistors, provides a compensation function between the first and second gain transistors during normal operations. In response to an occurrence of an ESD event at the output of the output driver, the capacitor turns on the second gain transistor The resistor, which is also connected to the first and second gain transistors, returns the second gain transistor to normal operations after the occurrence of an ESD event.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor relay comprises a light emitting element converting an electrical signal into an optical signal, a first photodiode array receiving the optical signal from the light emitting element. The first photodiode array converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. The relay is further provided with a first diode having one electrode connected to one end of the first photodiode array and a MOSFET. The MOSFET has a gate terminal connected to other electrode of the first diode, and a source terminal connected to other end of the first photodiode array. A second photodiode array is arranged to receive the optical signal from the light emitting element. The second photodiode array converts the optical signal into an electrical signal and has both ends connected to the respective electrodes of the first diode. A control circuit connected between the gate and source terminals of the MOSFET.

Abstract: The invention is a grounding device that grounds the wearer when the wearer is in a designated area and automatically disengages when the wearer leaves the designated area. In more detail, the grounding device includes a wristband that is electrically coupled to a grounded object with a fastening mechanism, wherein the fastening mechanism automatically releases to separate the wristband from the grounded object if the wristband is outside of the designated area. Where the fastening mechanism includes a coupling mechanism (e.g., a wire), there may be a rotating device that retracts the coupling mechanism after the fastening mechanism is released. The device may be enhanced with a grounding device monitoring unit that monitors whether the grounding device is in use and a sensor that detects whether the operator is in the designated area, so that an alarm is triggered if the operator is in the designated area and the grounding device is not in use.